Roll clearing



A. C. MORROW ETAL July 27, 1965 ROLL CLEARING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 6, 1962 INVENTORS ALFRED C. MORROW BY HARRY S. BARR. JR.

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ATTORNEY July 27, 1965 A. c. MORROW ETAL ROLL- CLEARING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 6, 1962 INVENTORS ALFRED C. MORROW HARRY S. BARR. JR.

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ATTORNEY 3,196,476 ROLL CLEARING Alfred C. Morrow, Lowell, and Harry S. Barr, Jr., Charlotte, N.C., assignors to Pneumafil Corporation, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 235,702 9 Claims. ((31. 15-25652) This invention relates to the clearing of lint, fiy and the like foreign matter from the moving components of textile machinery, and is particularly directed to means for clearing the processing rolls of drawframes, spinning frames, roving frames, and the like.

In the processing of textile materials, the textiles or textile fibers are passed between pairs of rolls serving to draw out, attenuate, or otherwise effect the relationship between the processed fibers. In the fabrication of cotton or the like yarns, the rolls of the drawing and spinningfrarnes have a propensity for the collection of fly lint and the like material. Stationary clearers have been employed, positioned adjacent these rolls so as to wipe the material accumulating on the surface of the roll. Notwithstanding the utilization of the stationary clearers, however, a condition termed eyebrowing frequently occurs when waste builds up in front of a clearer. Attempts have been made to eliminate eyebrowing by positioning suction ductwork behind the roll clearer so as to pick up these eyebrows. However, even with the use of this suction ductwork, an equilibrium condition often develops in which the eyebrows are not removed by the action of thesuction ductwork. As these eyebrows build up the cleaning function of the clearer pad diminishes with the result that fly and lint accumulates on the surface of the roll, interfering with their desired drafting function. Adidtionally, the eyebrows throw off bits of lint and fly into the drafted material producing slubs or other undesired irregularities in the processed yarn.

I It is with the above problems and desiderata in mind that the present means, including both method and apparatus, has been evoled. The novel means implement the clearing of a roll as employed in the processing of textile fibers so as to prevent the accumulationv of eyebrows between the clearer member and the roll surface, thus minimizing maintenance by an operator, and serving to improve the quality of the yarn produced.

i Accordingly, it is among the primary objects of this invention to provide improved means for clearing the moving surfaces of textile machinery of lint, fly, or the like material.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved roll clearer for textile machinery in which the formation of eyebrows is prevented.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide improved roll clearing means in which the clearing members are substantially self cleaning, minimizing the required care of an operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved clearer for the rolls of textile processing machinery in which the, clearer is substantially self adjusting with respect to the surfaces to be cleared.

These and other objects of the invention which will be made hereafter apparent are achieved by provision of an improved clearer comprising a clearer body member arranged adjacent the surface to be cleared. Surrounding this clearer body is a flexible wiping sleeve formed of a resilient walled tube of rubber, neoprene or some other synthetic having desired clearing properties. The interior dimension of the wiping tube or sleeve is such as to accommodate the body member with spacing between the interior wall of the sleeve and the body member permitting the sleeve to flex. A sleeve retainer in the form of a channel-shaped plate is arranged over United States Patent 3,196,476 Patented July 27, 1965 the wiping sleeve to sandwich same between the sleeve retainer and the clearer body. The sleeve retainer functions to shape the wiping sleeve to a desired contour, serving to billow same against the surface to be cleared. Means mounting the clearer body and sleeve for limited rotation are provided in the form of a rotating journal extending from each end of the clearer body into a bearing block. The bearing block in turn is slidably journaled in a bearing bracket on each end of the surface of the machine component to be cleared which in this case is a roll, thus providing sliding mounting means for the clearer permitting its displacement from the surface to be cleared. The bearing block is coupled to the clearer body by means of a flexible walled energy storing coupling member in the form of a torsion sleeve extending over a coupling shoulder on the clearer body and over the bearing block. Coupling sleeves are formed of a flexible material such as rubber or the like material. In use, the clearer is so positioned with respect to the roll surface to be cleared that the elastic sleeve acts as a-torsion member. The rotation of the cleared roll displaces the clearer and winds the energy storing torsion member to a point resulting in displacement of the clearer with respect to the roll surface thereby permitting return of the clearer to its initial position, at which time torsion buildup is again reinitiated. As a result of this buildup and release of torsion, the clearer is oscillated with respect to the cleared surface so that buildups of foreign matter or eyebrowing are prevented. I

Among the important features of the invention is the novel mounting bracket for the novel clearer member. This novel mounting bracket slidably supports the clearer member at a desired angle with respect to the surface to be cleared so as to permit torsion buildup in the clearer member to result in displacement of the clearer member from the roll surface.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the utilization of the elastic coupling sleeve to provide the desired torsion coupling.

The specific details of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and their mode of functioning, will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in clear, concise and exact terms in conjunction with accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel clearer shown as mounted for use in clearing the top roll of a roll pair of a drafting roll stand;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, through the drafting roll and the novel clearer looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the end of the novel clearer illustrating the details of the bearing and journal; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the vector forces acting on the wiping sleeve; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration similar to FIG. 4 indicating the desired range of angulan'ty through which the clearer may be positioned with respect to the roll surface to obtain the desired results; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the phases of movement of the-clearer with respect to the roll surface.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be employed to designate like parts.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-4, novel clearer assembly 10 is formed with a clearer body 11 surrounded by a flexible wiping sleeve 12 of a tubelike configuration. Sleeve 12 is secured to body 11 by means of a sleeve retainer 13 which is of a channel-like configuration and is designed to sandwich a portion of the sleeve 12 between the body and the retainer 13. Screws 14, or the like fastening 3 members are employed to secure retainer 13, body 11 in Operative relationship. I

Body member 12 is formed of a trapezoidal cross-sec- .tion as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 with a relatively wide base 15, as opposed to the relatively narrow top 16, a substantially vertical rear wall 17 and an inclinedfront sleeve 12 and wall 18. 1 Nose *20 is formed between base 15 and front wall 118 as viewed in the drawing, for a purpose to be made hereinafter moreapparent .i a I. p Sleeve retainer 13 is formed of a channel-shaped crosssection as best seen in FIGS. 4 and '5, with atop wall adjoining front wall 21 to rear wall '22. Top wall is of a dimension such as to permit it to overlie. the top 16 of clearer body 11 and sandwich the wiping sleeve 12 in the confines of the bounds of the cross-section of the clearer body 11 as seen in FIG. 2. A'major portionof the surfaceof coupling shoulder 20 is formed with knurl 21, as best seen in FIG. 3. Extending from and integral 7 with the free ends of coupling shoulder 20 is a rotating journal 22 of circular cross-section and coaxial with shoulder 20. V

Means mounting the clearer body 11. and sle'eve12 for limited rotation are provided by rotating journal 22 which is rotatably, received within bearing block 25 preferably between the clearer 10 and the roll R and a line parallel to the tangent.

It is to'be noted that the vertical axis through the clearer body 11 does not necessarily extend through the point of tangency. It will also 'be noted that the illustrated preferred range of angular positioning of the mounta ing axis of the'clearer 10 Withrespect to the roll axis is roll or'on a bottom roll.

confined to the upper left quadrant (as viewed in FIGS. 4-6) with respect to; rotation of the roll. a

.However pwhere it is desired'to utilize spring pressure inlieu of Jthe gravityeifect of the'clearer on the roll, the clearer location does not have to be limited to this range, and, may, in fact be utilized on a bottom section of the After mounting of the clearer with respect to the surface to be cleared, rotation of theroll with respect to the clearer sleeve 12 rot-ates the clearer body on itsrotating 7 journal'22a limited distance resulting in displacement of the clearer sleeve through the phases illustrated in FIG. 6. As a result of the frictional engagement between the roll surface andthe clearer sleeve, the clearer sleeve 12 is displaced causingthebody '11 to be-moved to a limiting 1' position as illustrated in FIG. 6C. Asa result'of this formed of nylon or the like friction free material. Block '25 has a sleeve support 26 on one end'thereof'anda sliding mount for clearer body 11 and sleeve 12 in the form of sliding journal 27 on the other end thereof. The

clearer 'sleeveidisplacement due to rotation, the flexible walled torsion sleeve 29 istcnsioned storing energy providing a potential restoring-force. Thezdisplacement of the sleeve 12 to the position illustrated in FIG. 60 results in .the application of a force Flto'the clearer body 11 as illustrated in FIG. 4. This force F may :be resolved intocomponents A and B acting at rightangles to each other, as seen in FIG. 4. Force'A acts in adirection parallel to the mounting axis, of the clearer assembly (the axis of slot 33) andha's a lever arm designated a. Force B,

the other componento f, the force F acting in a direction a at right angles to the vectorA has a lever arm designated l7. Forces A and B' acting thr-oughtheir lever arms a and b respectively, combine to form a moment which tends sleeve support 26 and the sliding journal 27 are separated by a bearing shoulder 28, as best seen in FIG. 3.

. Arranged over the sleeve support 26 and coupling shoul der 20 is an energy storing torsion sleeve 29 of rubber or the like elastic material, storing energy upon deflection.

Torsion sleeve 29 is press fitiinto position and: securely to'rotate fthe clearer assembly in the counter-clockwise direction as indicated bythe' direction arrow applied to 'FIG. 4. This moment tends to wind the flexible walled coupling sleeve 29. 'The force A, however, along'withthe momentum' of the clearer components produced by the V wiping action .cause the clearer 10 to move away from engages knurled portion 21 and the surface; of sleevesupport 26 on bearing block 25. The surface of support 26f is preferably formed with splines or the like projections.

A clearer supporting bearing bracket 30, as ,best seen in FIG. 1 is arrangedon each side of a novelclearer 10 r to support same with respect to .the rolls to be.cleared,

Bearing bracket 30 is formed of a sheet material such as steel or the like bent into a right-angle configuration with a horizontally extending supporting shoulder 31, and a 1 vertically extending'bearing plate 32. The bearing slot 33 is formed in bearing. plate 32 receiving sliding journal H 27. The bearing plate additionally bears against bearing In use the novel clearer 10 is arranged with respect .to the surface to be cleared so that the wiping sleeve 12 bears against the moving surface.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention as viewed in FIG. 1, the clearer 10 is shown as positionedwith respect to the'rolls R so as to function as a top roll clearer.

This is accomplished by' mounting bearing brackets 30 on each side' of the roll stand with bearing slots 33 extend ing slightly below the top surface of the roll R. Thereafter the clearer 10 is arranged with sliding journals 27 in bearing slots 33 so thatthe weight of the clearer 10 will move the clearer against the roll R.

To insure vibration, the clearer 10 must be located at the p'roperangle with respectto .the roll R. The limits of this angle asshownby the shaded area in FIG. 5, as

illustrated extend between a point normal to atangent' roll R in slidingbearing slot .3-3 to the position shown in FIG. 6D. Gravity forces then return clearer -10 to .its position adjacentthe roll surface. It will be noted from FIG. 6E that wiping sleeve 12 moves slightly forward of its original starting position due to its momentum resulting from the released stored elastic forces. This produces abufieting action on the roll surface tending to .dislodge any eyebrowing not displacediby the previously described movement of the clearer.

vIt is thus seen that improved-clearing means have been provided serving to positively displace any foreign matter from the clearedsurface in'a simple, inexpensive readily fabricatable and maintainable fashion. 7

The above disclousre has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims. l 1

What is claimed is: I l p 1. Clearing means forremoving foreign matter from a surface, said means comprising; elongate wiping means flexible against the surface to be cleared; rotatable mounting meanssupporting said wiping means for limited rotation about a longitudinal axis of said Wiping means with respect to the surface to becleared; energy storing torsion means betweeneach end of said wiping means and said rotatable mounting means, said torsion means rotated and tensioned upon rotation of said wiping means through its limited rotation; and slidable mounting means slidably supporting said wiping means to permit periodic displace ment of said wiping means from the surface to be cleared.

" 2. A method for clearing foreign mattern from a surface.

ing the energy of rotation of said wiping means to energy storing means; and utilizing the stored energy to eflect periodic sliding of the wiping means away from the sur- 3. Means mounting a clearer with respect to a surface to be cleared, said means comprising: rotating mounting means supporting opposed ends of the clearer for limited rotation about its axis with respect to the surface to be cleared energy storing torsion means on opposed ends of the clearer, wound upon rotation of the clearer in said rotating mounting means; and sliding mounting means supporting the clearer for movement away from the surface to be cleared after the clearer has been rotated to a limiting position in its cycle of limited rotation, whereby the surface to be cleared may be slidably wiped, and buffeted to release undesired foreign matter therefrom.

4. A roll clearer comprising: a flexible walled wiping sleeve; an elongate clearer body Within said sleeve of a cross-sectional dimension less than that of the interior cross-section of said sleeve permitting said sleeve to flex; a rotating journal on opposed ends of said body supporting said body for limited rotation about its axis; means for providing a limiting position of rotation and a sliding journal on opposed ends of said body supporting said body for sliding after said body has been rotated to said limiting position.

5. A roll clearer as in claim 4 in which said means for providing a limiting position including an energy storing torsion sleeve extended between said rotating journal and said sliding journal for winding upon rotation of said body through its limited rotation.

6. A roll clearer as in claim 4 in which said body is formed with a nose at its lower end extending in a direction to oppose friction forces on said sleeve.

7. A roll clearer comprising: a flexible walled wiping sleeve; a clearer body within said sleeve of a cross-sectional dimension less than the interior cross-section of said sleeve permitting said sleeve to flex; a bearing block at the end of said clearer body; a rotating journal between said bearing block and said clearer body mounting said body for limited rotation; a bearing bracket supporting said bearing block; and a sliding journal between said block and said bracket mounting said body and said bracket for sliding.

8. A roll clearer as in claim 7 in which a flexible walled torsion sleeve is extended between said bearing block and said clearer body, said torsion sleeve being wound upon rotation of said body through its limited rotation.

9. A roll clearer comprising: a flexible walled wiping sleeve; a clearer body within said sleeve of a cross-sectional dimension less than the interior cross-section of said sleeve permitting said sleeve to flex; a bearing block at each end of said clearer body; a rotating journal between said bearing block and said clearer body mounting said body for limited rotation; a bearing bracket supporting said bearing block; a sliding journal between said block and said bracket; a coupling shoulder on said body; a sleeve support on said block; and an elastic torsion sleeve extending between and secured to said shoulder and said sleeve support.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,033,016 7/12 Hope 15369 2,086,124 7/37 Ell 15369 2,730,770 1/56 Higgenbotham et al. 15-25652 2,858,575 11/58 Dudley 15256.51

CHARLES A. WELLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner. 

4. A ROLL CLEARER COMPRISING: A FLEXIBLE WALLED WIPING SLEEVE; AN ELONGATE CLEARER BODY WITHIN SAID SLEEVE OF A CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION LESS THAN THAT OF THE INTERIOR CROSS-SECTION OF SAID SLEEVE PERMITTING SAID SLEEVE TO FLEX; A ROTATING JOURNAL ON OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID BODY SUPPORTING SAID BODY FOR LIMITED ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS; MEANS FOR PROVIDING A LIMITING POSITION OF ROTATION AND A SLIDING JOURNAL ON OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID BODY SUPPORTING SAID BODY FOR SLIDING AFTER SAID BODY HAS BEEN ROTATED TO SAID LIMITING POSITION. 